{"id":19,"date":"2015-12-07T21:34:23","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T21:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/?page_id=19"},"modified":"2026-05-01T09:52:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:52:52","slug":"cosa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/cosa\/","title":{"rendered":"CoSA"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"19\" class=\"elementor elementor-19\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bc48c00 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bc48c00\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7bbe1b1\" data-id=\"7bbe1b1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4316c1a7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4316c1a7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67b54756\" data-id=\"67b54756\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18ae571f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18ae571f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CoSA-logo-1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CoSA-logo-1-300x100.png\" alt=\"Circles of Support and Accountability Logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CoSA-logo-1-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CoSA-logo-1-768x257.png 768w, https:\/\/www.initiativesjc.org\/wpblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CoSA-logo-1.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Program Overview<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) offers a caring community around people with offending histories, who are at high risk of harming themselves and others. Volunteers and staff offer a supportive space to those integrating into the community after incarceration, those serving Probation or Parole, or those who simply feel they need additional support to live safely.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">CoSA\u2019s approach is based heavily on the philosophy of\u00a0<strong>restorative justice<\/strong>. We utilize a holistic approach, focusing on mending relationships affected by the offence, holding offenders accountable for harms they caused, and building stronger and safer communities. While much of society considers high-risk individuals as hopeless, CoSA\u2019s approach has been shown to reduce recidivism rates by 72- 83%. The mantra of the program is <strong>no more victims<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">At the centre of every circle is its Core Member, the individual with an offence history. Core Members voluntarily seek a Circle of Support and are included from the beginning in all decision-making regarding their safe and healthy integration into the community. Each circle consists of one Core Member, one CoSA Staff Person, and 3-5 trained Support Volunteers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Participation in a circle requires a commitment of one year of weekly two hour meetings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>What does support look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Connecting the Core Member to practical needs (i.e. access to medical services, social assistance, seeking employment and affordable housing, etc.)<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Providing a consistent network of emotional support<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Creating a safe and supportive community<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>What does accountability look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Ensuring all actions and conversations prioritize community and personal safety<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Working to establish safe and healthy boundaries<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Encouraging honesty and transparency<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Addressing factors and triggers within offence cycles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">CoSA also advocates with police, parole, probation, treatment professionals, social assistance networks, and neighborhood groups to best support the Core Member and the community at large.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Our community holds many qualified professionals who provide the training necessary for the success of our support circles, including Forensic Psychological Services and Klinic Community Health Centre.<\/p>\n<h2>Volunteering<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Volunteering is an opportunity for the community to play a direct role in the restoration, reintegration, and risk management of people who are often seen with only fear and anger. See below for a list of required trainings available to volunteers and supporters. We also offer numerous supplemental trainings, and are always seeking new learning opportunities to offer our volunteers, supporters, and staff.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Required Trainings:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Introduction to CoSA<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Integration Concerns<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Understanding Sexual Assault Trauma<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Interested in becoming a volunteer? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.volunteermanitoba.ca\/view_volunteer_opportunity_details.php?id=1730\">Apply through Volunteer Manitoba.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For more information about Circles of Support and Accountability, including program eligibility, contact <a href=\"mailto:CoSA@initiativesjc.org\">CoSAWpg@initiativesjc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Program Overview Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) offers a caring community around people with offending histories, who are 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